avouch

avouch
avouch (v.) late 15c., from M.Fr. avochier "call upon as authority," in Old French "call (to court), advocate, plead (a case)," from L. advocare "call to" as a witness (see ADVOCATE (Cf. advocate)).
Avouch, which is no longer in common use, means guarantee, solemnly aver, prove by assertion, maintain the truth or existence of, vouch for .... Avow means own publicly to, make no secret of, not shrink from admitting, acknowledge one's responsibility for .... Vouch is now common only in the phrase vouch for, which has taken the place of avouch in ordinary use, & means pledge one's word for .... [Fowler]
Related: Avouched; avouching.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • avouch — avouch·ment; dis·avouch; avouch; …   English syllables

  • Avouch — A*vouch , n. Evidence; declaration. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Avouch — A*vouch , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Avouched} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Avouching}.] [OF. avochier, LL. advocare to recognize the existence of a thing, to advocate, fr. L. advocare to call to; ad + vocare to call. Cf. {Avow} to declare, {Advocate}, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avouch — avouch, avow, vouch Avouch, meaning ‘to assure, guarantee, acknowledge’ and overlapping with avow, can be found in the Bible (AV), Spenser, Marlowe, Milton, Byron, and Thackeray, but despite these fine credentials is no longer in general use.… …   Modern English usage

  • avouch — I (avow) verb acknowledge, affirm, affirm with confidence, allege, allege as a fact, assert, assert peremptorily, assert positively, assert under oath, asseverate, attest, aver, bear witness, certify, confirm, confirm by oath, contend, declare,… …   Law dictionary

  • avouch — aver, affirm, avow, profess, declare, *assert, protest, warrant, predicate Analogous words: *confirm, corroborate Contrasted words: gainsay, contradict, *deny, negative, traverse, impugn …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • avouch — [ə vouch′] vt. [ME avouchen < OFr avochier, to affirm positively < L advocare: see ADVOCATE] 1. to vouch for; guarantee 2. to declare the truth of; assert; affirm 3. to acknowledge openly; avow SYN. ASSERT avouchment n …   English World dictionary

  • avouch — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, to cite as authority, from Middle French avochier to summon, from Latin advocare more at advocate Date: 15th century 1. to declare as a matter of fact or as a thing that can be proved ; affirm 2. to… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • avouch — avoucher, n. avouchment, n. /euh vowch /, v.t. 1. to make frank acknowledgment or affirmation of; declare or assert with positiveness. 2. to assume responsibility for; vouch for; guarantee. 3. to admit; confess. [1350 1400; ME avouchen < MF… …   Universalium

  • avouch — verb a) To freely and openly admit. b) To confess …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”